[Trombone-l] Horn Stands

[Bill Dinwiddie]

Hi Doug,

I have not used one of these stands and so cannot speak from personal 
experience, but I will say this: "LOOK OUT!"  Any stand that is that light 
is almost sure to tip over at the slightest bump. The center of gravity of a 
trombone is just too high to trust it to one of those light weight stands. 
IMHO, the only thing that really keeps your horn safe when it is parked on a 
'bone stand is the sheer weight of the stand. The stand I am presently using 
(a 3 legged K&M) is rather heavy, but it is very hard to knock over. If a 
drunken customer hits it while falling to the floor, well, it's going to go 
down along with my horn. But, in my extensive career, I have seen this 
happen maybe once. I always make sure that my rig is away from customers and 
hopefully protected by a chair or a music stand or something.

The other good thing about a heavy horn stand is that, when someone sees me 
walking down the street here in downtown Chicago at 2 AM on the way to my 
car, carrying a big silver chunk of what is obviously metal, they tend to 
steer clear of me. I don't threaten anyone, I just carry it in my right 
hand. I never put it in the case because that way my "protection" is not 
visible, and besides the darn thing might dent my horn.

Good luck,

Bill Dinwiddie
billdin at comcast.net





Anyone seen one of these Hercules Trombone Stands, or better yet used
one?

<http://www.herculesstands.com/travlite/DS420B.html>

(URL between the "<" and ">")

Doug